⋯She Found Me Again
Not too distant in the future, somewhere on the Back Mountain as dusky twilight settled in.
Rustling, leisurely footsteps mingled with the urgent thud of someone kicking off the dirt path, echoing through the air. The gap between the two sounds held parallel, neither closing nor widening—until one set came to a halt.
⋯⋯She found me again.
I ducked my head for a moment, letting out an inaudible sigh, then slowly turned around.
"You⋯⋯!"
A familiar figure came into view. Hair black as if it'd melted the night itself. And a girl in a flashy princess-style frilly dress that didn't suit this mountain trail at all. Her face flushed from the long chase, her shoulders trembling.
"Huff, heave⋯⋯."
She stopped in front of me, hands on her knees as she gulped down ragged breaths. Then, she flung a desperate plea my way.
"Why are you on the side of the monsters? You're a magical girl too⋯⋯!"
"⋯⋯."
"Are you being blackmailed? If that's it, I—I, we can help you! So⋯⋯!"
Where the hell do I even start explaining this? I'm not on the monsters' side, and I'm sure as shit no magical girl.
"Um⋯⋯."
I opened my mouth to correct her, then shut it again. No point. Talking here wouldn't change a damn thing. It'd just be a waste of time.
"⋯⋯You guys can't help me."
"How do you know that for sure?! You won't know until you try!"
Her shout echoed loud enough to startle the birds nearby into flight—chirp-chirp—scattering in panic.
I didn't answer. I just stared into her wet eyes for a moment before turning away.
"I'm out."
As I tossed those quiet words over my shoulder, my form scattered into the air.
"Wait—!"
The girl left behind lunged forward too late, clenching her fist in a fading afterimage.
*
Vision twisted, and the space around me flipped in an instant. Teleport complete—my toes landed lightly on dry ground.
At the same time, a fluffy, tiny doll-like shape popped out from my bosom.
"Popo."
I called its name, and the little creature spun a gleeful loop in midair like it'd been waiting for it.
"Mir-po!"
Popo circled around me, scanning our surroundings with a worried look before piping up in a curious tone.
"That magical girl from before⋯⋯ you sure it's okay to just leave her like that? She seems like the type who'd keep being a pain, po!"
I didn't answer. Instead, I fished a cola-flavored candy from my pocket.
The wrapper crinkled as I peeled it off and gave it a tentative lick. Sweetness bloomed in my mouth, laced with that sharp, fizzy tang.
"⋯⋯Not really."
She's one of the weaker magical girls anyway. Annoying, sure, but not enough to actually get in my way. Better to just ignore her.
"Don't sweat it."
I licked the round candy slowly and started walking.